Most Exclusive Restaurant in Calgary

[MacDougalbry]

Check out John's best list for 2006 and his best list for Valentines Day...

http://www.cbc.ca/eyeopener/johngilchrist.html

Top 10 Valentine Restaurant Choices(runs:8.24)
The Casbah 720 - 11 Ave SW, 265-9800
Moroccan Castle 217 - 19 St NW, 283-5452
Le Beaujolais Banff Ave & Buffalo St, 762-8374
Café Soleil 208 Caribou St, 762-2090
Panorama Calgary Tower, 508-5822
Rouge 1240 - 9 Ave SE, 531-2767
Ei8ht 1530 - 5 St SW, 806-0884
Laurier Lounge 917 - 17 Ave SW, 228-3771
Saint Germain Hotel Arts, 290-1322
Fleur de Sel 2015 - 4 St SW, 228-9764
Capo 1420 - 9 Ave SE, 264-2276


John's Top Ten Restaurants (or 25) picks for 2006(6.13)
1. Tie - Capo 1420 - 9 Avenue S.E., 264-2276
2. Raw Bar 119 - 12 Avenue S.W., (Hotel Arts) 266-4611
3. Saint Germain 115 - 12 Avenue S.W., (Hotel Arts) 290-1322
4. Pulcinella 1147 Kensington Crescent N.W., 283-7793
5. Ei8ht 1530 - 5 Street S.W., 806-0884
6. Gourmet Croissant 1205 Bow Valley Trail, Canmore, 609-4410
7. Velvet at The Grand 608 - 1 Street S.W., 244-8400
8. Globefish 326 - 14 Street N.W., 521-0222
9. Bison Mountain Bistro 211 Bear Street, Banff, 762-5550
10. Bumpy's 1040 - 8 Street S.W., 265-0244
11. Q 100 La Caille Place S.W., 262-5554
12. Open Range 1114 Edmonton Trail N.E., 277-3408
13. Belgo 501 - 8 Avenue S.W., 265-6555
14. Wild Horse Bistro 126 Centre Avenue, Black Diamond, 933-5800
15. Bistro Twenty Two Ten 2210 - 4 Street S.W., 228-4528
16. Bistro Provence 52 North Railway Street, Okotoks, 938-2224
17. LeVilla 1851 Sirocco Drive S.W., 217-9699
18. Opus on 8th 628 - 8 Avenue S.W., 464-8767
19. Thai Pagoda 1306 Bow Valley Trail, Canmore, 609-8090
20. Reader's Garden Café 311 - 25 Avenue S.E., 245-3252 & Victoria's 306 - 17 Avenue S.W., 245-5356
21. Isabella's by Infuse 707 - 13 Avenue S.W., 410-9288
22. Laurier Lounge 917 - 17 Avenue S.W., 228-3771
23. Village 5075 Falconridge Boulevard N.E., 509-2559
24. Tibet on 10th 314 - 10 Street N.W., 313-6561
25. Red Door Bistro 607 - 11 Avenue S.W., 233-2433
For full reviews check out the latest (6th) edition of John's My Favourite Restaurants in Calgary & Banff, available in all local bookstores.

[looooob]

^^^are those listed slanted towards 'new' restaurants??

anyways I think the consensus is likely that Capo, River Cafe, Il Sogno, maybe Rouge are amongst the ones meeting your criteria?

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

It's not La Caille anymore. Now it is Q Haute Cuisine. It is much smaller - only about 25 tables total.

Vintages Chop House is very nice.

Belgo is pretty good.

Riverfront Cafe

What's the place down iby Fishcreek park?

The Ranch, very nice too.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

Fuze in Banff.

Well, if you are gonna go out of town, go to the Post at Lake Louise instead. And then the next morning, go to the Banff Springs for their brunch.

[RW99]

Both the large hotels in Banff have a five diamond restaurant, only two in Alberta. Eden (in The Rimrock Resort Hotel) and The Banffshire Club (in The Fairmont Banff Springs)

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by RW99

Both the large hotels in Banff have a five diamond restaurant, only two in Alberta. Eden (in The Rimrock Resort Hotel) and The Banffshire Club (in The Fairmont Banff Springs)

Eden is so snooty, they don't have prices on their menu.

The Rimrock is a great hotel. Also there's always hot chicks in the pool area.

[RW99]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Eden is so snooty, they don't have prices on their menu.

The Rimrock is a great hotel. Also there's always hot chicks in the pool area.

I ate there in November, there's a price menu at the entrance at least . It's a plated dinner with set courses.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by RW99

I ate there in November, there's a price menu at the entrance at least . It's a plated dinner with set courses.

Ah, must have changed since last time I was there. Or maybe I wasn't looking hard enough How much was it?

[RW99]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Ah, must have changed since last time I was there. Or maybe I wasn't looking hard enough How much was it?

In November they have a special, $59 3 course / $69 4 course / $89 6 course with pairings available at same amounts. But the rest of the year I think it's something like $125 / $175 / $225.

[troutman]

Eden at the Rimrock in Banff. A five diamond restaurant.

[Angelino]

Thanks everyone for their time and recommendations!

[Winsor_Pilates]

The only fancy place I've been is Muse and it was great.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by Angelino

Thanks everyone for their time and recommendations!

So what did you settle on? Chicken-on-the-Way?

[Frequitude]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Serious answer:

Italian - Capo. Absolutely the best in Calgary by a wide margin.
Steak - Buchanan's.
French/Continental - Belvedere, Teatro.

The absolute best restaurant in Calgary IMNSHO is River Cafe.

Others: Catch (seafood, steak), Opus on 8th (Asian tapas), Muse (white food), Pulcinella (pizza)

But since you're from LA, the best restaurants in Calgary are nothing compared to LA's. Heck, I can get a better meal at South Coast Plaza than in all of Calgary. I will give exceptions for East Indian and Vietnamese cuisine, however.

This is pretty much spot on with what you're asking, but I also have to add Rouge in Inglewood.

If you actually want snooty & expensive, then La Chaumiere. It's probably the only place in the city where you can't wear jeans. But for an upscale Calgary dining experience, stick to Rouge, Capo, Belvedere, Teatro or River Cafe.

[GreatWhiteEbola]

I would suggest Belgo. Also the Panarama Room's view is unrivaled.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

This is pretty much spot on with what you're asking, but I also have to add Rouge in Inglewood.

If you actually want snooty & expensive, then La Chaumiere. It's probably the only place in the city where you can't wear jeans. But for an upscale Calgary dining experience, stick to Rouge, Capo, Belvedere, Teatro or River Cafe.

Rouge is better in the summertime when he serves produce grown in the restaurant's garden.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Pho Kim. You have to rinse everything with hot tea before eating.

[Madman]

Is Carver's still in the hotel off of 32nd?

The one time I went there it was outstanding steak.

[Nufy]

What everyones opinion on the Bears Den...

My boss is letting me take the wife out for dinner on the Company tab..

Been thinking about the Bears Den or some other upscale place.

Somewhere in the City and also somewhere I could possibly get a reservation for this sat.

[Claeren]

IF you live in Calgary and can spend anything go to 'Capo'.

Hands down the best choice in the sense you are looking for.

Dinner for two with one bottle of wine should run $200-$260.


At the same time though, it is surprisingly NOT pretensious and the wait-staff is excellent. (Both in doing their job and in not making you feel like an idiot if you drop your fork or ask about what something on the menu means, etc.)



Bear's Den is overrated. Good but far from great.




Claeren.